Motor-vehicle running-gear.



PATENTED DEC. 19, 1905. R. B QLDS. MOTOR VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED 0M 29 1904 WITNESSES. I

tion.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOTOR-VEHICLE RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1905.

Application filed October 29, 1904. Serial No. 230,470-

To ctZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANsoM E. OLDs,a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Lansing, in the county of Ingham and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicle Running- Gear, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of running-gear for motor-,vehicles in which a separate underframe distinct from the body-frame is provided for the support of the motor and drive mechanism; and the object of the invention is to provide a running-gear particularly adapted for a direct bevel drive-gear in which the motor-shaft and a driven shaft are maintained in constant alinement with each other and in rigid relation to the rear or drive axle, while at the same time the motor is resiliently supported and the running-gear is capable of accommodating itself to travel upon an uneven road.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and operation of the underframe in connection with the motor and drive mechanism, all as more fully hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my underframe and drive mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section, partly in eleva- Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

A represents the rear or driving wheels, A the front wheels, B the front axle to which the front wheels are secured by the usual steering-knuckles, G is the rear axle-sleeve inclosing the divided live-axle which carries the rear wheels, D is the gear-casing inclosing the intermediate gear between the driving-shaft and the divided live-axle, E is the driving-shaft transmitting motion to the rear live-axle, F is the motor-shaft in alinement with the driving-shaft, G is the motor, H is the balance-wheel, and I is the variable-speed gear interposed between the motor and the driving-shaft, all these parts being of the usual construction and operation except as more fully hereinafter described.

In order to transmit the power from the motor to the rear axle in a direct line, I provide an underframe, which is in the nature of a rigid forward extension of the rear axlesleeve in a plane with the axis thereof and provided only with a single support at its front, in the longitudinal center thereof, adapted ground independently of the frame.

to support it yieldingly upon the front axle and at the same time permit the front axle to adjust itself to the unevenness of the In the drawings I show an elliptic spring J transversely interposed between the front axle and the front end of the frame, in the center thereof, and this spring may be secured in position by suitable clips to both, or it may have a pivotal connection with the front axle. I preferably construct the underframe of suitable steel tubing in the form shown, its forward portion being constructed as a semiindependent part, composed of the side and end members a 6, connected by suitable fittings and forming together a restricted quadrilateral frame of just sufficient size to support within its area the motor G, the balance-wheel H, and the variable-speed gear I, the motor being preferably supported by transverse bars K upon the side bars of the frame, all in such manner that the motorshaft is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the frame. The rear portion of the underframe is composed of the rear axle-sleeve O, the two side members 0, and a central member (Z. The side members 0 extend from near the outer ends of the axle-sleeve G in an inward and forward direction to a point of connection with the rear corners of the motor-supporting portion of the frame and are detachably connected thereto by bolts passing through standing flanges 6, formed on the adjacent ends of pipe-fittings. The central member (Z connects the rear member I) of the motor-supporting portion with the casing D directly in the longitudinal axis of the underframe, the connection being preferably made by brazed joints, all the other joints of the frame being brazed likewise except at the joints (3. This central member (Z is of suitable size and suitably connected at the ends to form a rigid distance-bar and housing, in which the driving-shaft may be suitably supported in bearings in alinement with the motor-shaft, and since the construction of the underframe makes it perfectly rigid and not subject to any torsional strain it is obvious that the motor and the whole drive mechanism are maintained in rigid relation to each other, and the motor-shaft and driving-shaft being in the neutral axis of the under-frame will remain in alinement with each other under all conditions of stress and may be joined by any simple direct connection.

The vertical flange-joints e stiffen the frame and make it more convenient to construct the parts separately and mount and adjust them' together. It will also be seen that by taking out the bolts from the removable head .of the gear-casing and from the flanges which connect the adjacent rear portion of the side bar with the forward portion of the underframe part of the underframe can be readily removed to give free access into the gear-casing.

The body (not shown) will be supported upon rear springs L, resting on the rear axlecasing, and in front it may be supported at its forward end directly upon the central part of the front member 7) of the frame, suitable connections being made between said body and the axle to supply the requirements of a reach to hold the two axles in proper alinement with each other.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with the front and rear axles, of a rigid underframe comprising front, rear and side members, the rear member forming the rear axle-sleeve and central gear-casing inclosing the transmitting-gear for the live axles, and the side members composed of forward and rear portions the forward portions of which form the sides of a semi-independent forward portion of the frame and support the frame upon the forward axle and the rear portions of which are separably connected with the rear corners of the forward portion of the frame, one of said rear portions forming with part of the rear member and gearcasing an independent detachable part of said underframe.

2. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with the front and rear axles, of an underframe comprising a tubular rear member forming the rear axle-sleeve, tubularside members composed of forwardly converging rear portions rigidly connected to the rear member and parallel forward portions integrally formed with a connecting front member yieldingly supporting the frame upon the front axle and a transverse member connecting the forward portions of the side members and forming therewith and with the front member a quadrilateralportion of the underframe upon which the motor and part of the drive mechanism are supported, the rear portions of the side members being separably connected to the rear corners of said frame portion.

8. In a motor-vehicle runninggear, the combination with the front and rear axles, of an underframe formed of tubular members and comprising a rear member forming the rear axle-sleeve and a two-part gear-casing separabl-y connecting the sections, side members composed of forwardly-converging rear portions rigidly connected to the rear member and parallel forward portions integrally formed with a front member yieldingly supporting the frame upon the front axle, a transverse member connecting the forward portions of the side members and forming therewith and with the front member a quadrilateral frame to the rear corners of which the rear portions of theside members are detachably connected, and a central member connecting the transverse member with one part of the gear-casing.

i. In a motor-vehicle runninggear, the combination with the front and rear axles, of an underframecomprising a front member yieldingly supporting the frame upon the front axle, a rear member forming the rear axle-sleeve and gear-casing, side members having forwardly-converging rear portions and parallel front portions connected at their front end by the front member, and a transverse member forming in connection with the forward portions of the side members and with the front member a semi-independent portion of the underframe to'the rear corners of which the rear portions of the side members are separably connected one of said side members forming with a portion of the rear member and gear-casing a segregate part of the underframe.

5. In a motor-vehicle running-gear, the combination with the front and rear axles, of an underframe forming a rigid forward extension of the rear axle-sleeve, a spring centrally supporting said frame at its forward end upon the front axle and forming the sole connection therewith, and motor mechanism rigidly mounted upon said frame, said frame composed of metal tubing including side and end members forming a quadrilateral forward portion within the area of which the motor and its adjacent parts are rigidly supported, side members connecting the rear axle-sleeve near its ends with the rear corners of the quadrilateral portion and having detachable connection therewith and a central member connecting the center of the rear member of the quadrilateral portion with the casing of the rear axle.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RANSOM E. OLDS.

WVitnesses:

EMERY W. OLDs, CHARLES F. HAMMOND. 

